Mounting device for a fuel injection valve

ABSTRACT

An installation device for installing a fuel injection valve in a receiving bore of a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. The installation device has a sheath element which at least partially encloses the fuel injection valve. The installation device can be introduced, together with the fuel injection valve, into the receiving bore. An inwardly angled first collar section, which can be nonpositively joined to a receiving section of the fuel injection valve receiving the first collar section in order to transfer both a pressing force serving to press the fuel injection valve into the receiving bore and a pulling force in the opposite direction, is provided on a first end of the sheath element. An outwardly angled second collar section, which offers an application surface for a tool for applying both the pressing force and the pulling force, is shaped onto a second end of the sheath element located opposite to the first end.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The present invention concerns an installation device for installing afuel injection valve, in particular a high-pressure direct injectionvalve, in a receiving bore of a cylinder head of an internal combustionengine. Through the high-pressure direct injection valve, fuel isinjected directly into the combustion chamber of the internal combustionengine.

German Published Patent Application No. 43,15,233 A1 describes a knowninstallation device configured as a sealing sleeve for installation of afuel injection valve on a direct-injection internal combustion engine.This known installation device surrounds the fuel injection valve overan axial portion and is pressed sealingly, by way of a clamping claw,onto the cylinder head. In this context, the known installation deviceconfigured as a sealing sleeve seals an oil chamber, which receives,inter alia, the camshafts and the cam followers for actuating the intakeand exhaust valves, with respect to the fuel injection valve that is tobe inserted into a receiving bore of the cylinder head. The knowninstallation device is not itself introduced into the receiving bore forthe fuel injection valve, but rather the known installation device formsan axial elongation of the receiving bore which extends to a cylinderhead cover that closes off the oil chamber. The known installationdevice, which performs primarily a sealing function, is therefore ofonly limited suitability for pressing the fuel injection valve into thepertinent receiving bore of the cylinder head. In no way is the knowninstallation device suitable for removing the fuel injection valve fromthe receiving bore, as is necessary for repair and maintenance, sincewith the known installation device it is not possible to transfer to thefuel injection valve any pulling force acting in the removal direction.

German Patent No. 44,13,415 C1 describes a further installation devicewith which a fuel injection valve can be installed in a receiving boreof a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. Lateral flattenedareas are provided on the nozzle holder of the fuel injection valve thatis to be installed, to form contact surfaces for a clamping claw. Thefuel injection valve that is to be installed is pushed completely intothe receiving bore of the cylinder head by tightening the clamping claw.With this known installation device as well, it is not possible toremove the fuel injection valve for repair and maintenance. Instead,after the clamping claw has been loosened and removed, the fuelinjection valve must be pulled out of the receiving bore using adifferent suitable tool, which can cause damage to the fuel injectionvalve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The installation device according to the present invention provides theadvantage not only that the fuel injection valve can be pressed into thereceiving bore of the cylinder head, but also, because the installationdevice according to the present invention allows the application ofpulling force, that the fuel injection valve can be pulled out of thereceiving bore of the cylinder head for repair and maintenance purposes.

Because the installation device according to the present invention canbe introduced together with the fuel injection valve into the receivingbore of the cylinder head, axial guidance of the installation device bythe receiving bore is guaranteed. A first collar section provided at afirst end of the installation device according to the present inventionis used for nonpositive connection with the fuel injection valve, whilea second collar section provided at the opposite end offers anapplication surface for a tool with which the installation device can beacted upon by both a pressing and a pulling force. In this context, thepressing or pulling force advantageously acts on a section of the fuelinjection valve located relatively low down in the receiving bore, sothat pressing or pulling loads on the relatively sensitive section ofthe fuel injection valve at the inflow end are avoided.

The fact that a sheath element at least partially surrounds the fuelinjection valve results in particularly good protection of the fuelinjection valve during pressing into the receiving bore of the cylinderhead. The installation device according to the present invention thusmakes possible particularly easy and low-stress installation and removalof the fuel injection valve in and from the cylinder head. With theinstallation device according to the present invention, installation canalso be performed automatically or semiautomatically, thus considerablyreducing installation costs.

A further advantage of the present invention may be seen in the factthat the fuel injection valve can be inserted into the installationdevice in a particularly simple and convenient manner if theinstallation device has a corresponding lateral recess. The firstannular section can advantageously be fork-shaped and can enclose thereceiving section, preferably configured as an annular groove, of thefuel injection valve. In addition, inwardly extending projections canadvantageously be provided on the sheath element, in order additionallyto secure the region of the fuel injection valve which is at the inflowend with respect to the receiving section.

In particularly advantageous fashion, the installation device accordingto the present invention can be manufactured integrally from a metalsheet, preferably by deep drawing. In addition, securing elementsconfigured, for example, as clips can advantageously be attached insnap-locking fashion to the sheath element of the installation device,so that electrical supply lines to the fuel injection valve can besecured to the sheath element. In particularly advantageous fashion, theinstallation device according to the present invention can furthermorehave hydraulic and/or electrical plug connections for easier connectionto the electrical supply lines and the fuel supply line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an axial section through an installation device accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the installation device according to thepresent invention depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an axial section through the cylinder head of an internalcombustion and an installation device of the first embodiment accordingto the present invention that is introduced into a receiving bore of thecylinder head and guides a fuel injection valve.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of an installation device according to thepresent invention as depicted in FIG. 2 and a view of securing elementsfor securing an electrical supply line.

FIG. 5 shows an axial section through the cylinder head of an internalcombustion engine and an installation device according to a secondembodiment of the present invention introduced into a receiving bore.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiment of an installation device 1 according to thepresent invention depicted in section in FIG. 1 has a sheath element 3,curved about a longitudinal axis 2, which is substantially of partiallycylindrical shape. At a first end 6 which can be introduced into areceiving bore 4 (visible in FIG. 3) of a cylinder head 5 of an internalcombustion engine, installation device 1 according to the presentinvention has a first collar section 7. As is evident from FIG. 2, whichshows a top view of the exemplary embodiment of present installationdevice 1 depicted in FIG. 1, installation device 1 according to thepresent invention has a lateral recess 8, extending over the entireaxial extension of installation device 1, by means of which a fuelinjection valve 20 can be inserted into installation device 1. As isevident from FIG. 3, first collar section 7 receives a receiving section25, configured in suitable fashion (e.g. as an annular groove), of fuelinjection valve 20. For this purpose, as is evident from FIG. 2, firstcollar section 7 can be shaped like a fork, by the fact that a collarsection 7a of partially cylindrical shape, which in the exemplaryembodiment is bent through 180 degrees, is adjoined on either side by astraight collar section 7b and 7c. Straight collar sections 7b and 7ccan run parallel to one another. Alternatively, straight collar sections7b and 7c can be oriented with respect to one another such that recess 8tapers slightly opposite to introduction direction 9 of fuel injectionvalve 20, in order to surround fuel injection valve 20 in snap-lockfashion.

As is evident from FIG. 2, sheath element 3 is correspondingly bent, ina partially cylindrically shaped sheath section 3a, through 180 degreesin the exemplary embodiment, sheath section 3a of partially cylindricalshape being adjoined on either side by a straight sheath section 3b and3c.

As is evident from FIG. 1, a second collar section 11 is provided at end10, located opposite first end 6, of installation device 1 according tothe invention. Second collar section 11 offers, for a tool (notdepicted), both an application surface 12a to be acted upon by apressing force to press fuel injection valve 20 into receiving bore 4 ofcylinder head 5, and a further application surface 12b to be acted uponby a pulling force, acting on the opposite direction, which is requiredfor removal of fuel injection valve 1. In the preferred exemplaryembodiment that is depicted, installation device 1 is manufactured froma metal strip by deep drawing. In the manufacturing operation, first thesheath element 3 is shaped in the manner apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2,and then first collar section 7 is bent inward so that it extendsperpendicular to longitudinal axis 2. Second collar section 11 iscorrespondingly bent outward so that it also extends perpendicular tolongitudinal axis 2.

FIG. 3 shows a section through cylinder head 5 of an internal combustionengine (not depicted in further detail), into whose receiving bore 4 afuel injection valve 20, fastened to installation device 1 which is alsodepicted in section, is pressed. Receiving bore 4 is configured as astepped bore adapted to nozzle body 23 of fuel injection valve 20, sprayopening 22 being arranged where receiving bore 4 opens into combustionchamber 24 of the internal combustion engine.

During installation, fuel injection valve 20 is first slid into lateralrecess 8 of installation device 1 according to the present invention insuch a way that fuel injection valve 20 is secured to a receivingsection, configured in the exemplary embodiment as annular groove 25, onfirst collar section 7 of installation device 1, for example upstreamfrom nozzle holder 21. When fuel injection valve 20 is pressed intoreceiving bore 4 of cylinder head 5, fuel injection valve 20 isintroduced into receiving bore 4 together with installation device 1according to the present invention, and pressed into receiving bore 4using a tool (not depicted) which acts on application surface 12a ofsecond collar section 11. A clamping claw, for example, is suitable asthe tool. It is essential in this context that the pressing force actingon application surface 12a of second collar section 11 be transferred inthe X direction (see arrow X in FIG. 3), via installation device 1according to the present invention, to receiving section 25 of fuelinjection valve 20, without allowing the pressing force to act on region26 of fuel injection valve 20 that is upstream from receiving section25. In the case of installation device 1 that is shown in FIG. 3 and ispressed completely into receiving bore 4 together with fuel injectionvalve 20, second collar section 11 projects completely out of receivingbore 4, so that the tool can engage directly on second collar section 11without the interposition of additional means.

Correspondingly, in the event of a removal of fuel injection valve 20for repair or maintenance, a pulling force exerted with a suitable toolopposite to the X direction can be applied to application surface 12b,the pulling force being transferred, via installation device 1 accordingto the present invention, to receiving section 25 of fuel injectionvalve 20. During the removal of fuel injection valve 20, region 26upstream from receiving section 25 is therefore once again not subjectedto the pulling force necessary for removal.

In accordance with a development according to the present invention,inwardly extending lobe-like projections 30, drawn with dashed lines inFIG. 3, can be provided on sheath element 3 in order to secure fuelinjection valve 20 additionally to installation device 1, by the factthat projections 30 rest, for example, against steps of the valve body.Lobe-like projections 30 can easily be punched out of installationdevice 1, which is preferably manufactured from a metal sheet, and thenbent inward.

FIG. 4 shows a top view, corresponding to FIG. 2, of installation device1 according to the present invention. Elements already explained withreference to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 are given conforming reference characters.According to a development, snap elements 31b and 31c which serve toreceive one or more securing elements 32 are configured on straightsheath sections 3b and 3c. In the exemplary embodiment, securingelements 32 are configured in a bracket shape, surround an electricalsupply line 33 that is more easily visible in FIG. 3, and snap intosnap-lock elements 31b and 31c. A plurality of securing elements 32,which are offset axially along longitudinal axis 2 and secure electricalsupply line 33 at multiple points to sheath element 3, can be provided.Securing elements 32 can also be configured to receive multipleelectrical or other supply lines. Securing elements 32 prevent damage toelectrical supply line 33 during the installation and removal of fuelinjection valve 20.

According to a further development that is not depicted, the functionsof the electrical connection and of a hydraulic connection fordelivering fuel can also be integrated into installation device 1. Forexample, one hydraulic and one electrical plug connection may beenvisaged, immovably joined to installation device 1 according to thepresent invention. When installation device 1 is introduced, these plugconnections snap laterally into fuel injection valve 20, and terminateoutside receiving bore 4 of cylinder head 5 for further connection to awiring harness or a fuel delivery line.

A concrete exemplary embodiment of an installation device 1 according tothe present invention equipped with an electrical plug connection isdepicted in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows, in a manner similar to FIG. 3, asection through a cylinder head 5 of an internal combustion engine (notdepicted in further detail), into whose receiving bore 4 a fuelinjection valve 20, secured to installation device 1 that is alsodepicted in section, is pressed. In this exemplary embodiment as well,receiving bore 4 is configured as a stepped bore adapted to nozzle body23 of fuel injection valve 20. Spray opening 22 is arranged wherereceiving bore 4 opens into combustion chamber 24 of the internalcombustion engine.

As a development according to the present invention of the exemplaryembodiment already described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4,installation device 1 depicted in FIG. 5 has, in the region of its firstcollar section 7, radially inwardly projecting contact elements 40 whichcoact with corresponding mating elements 41 of fuel injection valve 20for electrical contacting. Contact elements 40 can consist, for example,of radially projecting metal strips, while mating elements 41 of fuelinjection valve 20 can be contact springs which enclose contact elements40 in grasping fashion. Other electrical contacting capabilities knownper se can, of course, also be used.

In the region of second collar section 11, installation device 1depicted in FIG. 5 has a contact plug 42 which coacts with a contactbushing (not depicted). Contact pins 43 are provided on contact plug 42.Each of contact pins 43 is connected via a conductive element 44 to oneof contact elements 40. Conductive elements 44 can, for example, becontact lugs manufactured from a metal strip, which are injection-moldedonto a suitable plastic for electrical insulation with respect toinstallation device 1. Contact plug 42 can also be insert-molded ontoinstallation device 1 according to the present invention using a plasticinjection molding process. If installation device 1 is made from ametal, sheath element 3 which is insulated with respect to conductiveelements 44 can at the same time be used to connect fuel injection valve20 to ground. Conductive elements 44 either can run inside sheathelement 3, or can be applied onto the inner or outer enveloping surfaceof sheath element 3.

Contact plug 42 is particularly easily accessible if contact pins 43 areangled, preferably at 45 degrees, with respect to longitudinal axis 2 ofinstallation device 1.

What is claimed is:
 1. An installation device for installing a fuelinjection valve in a receiving bore of a cylinder head of an internalcombustion engine, comprising:a sheath element for transferring apressing force to the fuel injection valve and partially enclosing thefuel injection valve, wherein the sheath element and the fuel injectionvalve are introduced into the receiving bore; a first collar sectionshaped onto a first end of the sheath element and being nonpositivelycoupled to a receiving section of the fuel injection valve in order totransfer a pressing force serving to press the fuel injection valvealong a first direction into the receiving bore and a pulling forceserving to pull along a direction opposite to the first direction; and asecond collar section shaped onto a second end of the sheath elementlocated opposite to the first end and including at least one applicationsurface for receiving the pressing force and the pulling force appliedby a tool.
 2. The installation device according to claim 1, wherein thesheath element includes a lateral recess running over an entire lengthof the sheath element and into which the fuel injection valve isintroduced.
 3. The installation device according to claim 1, wherein thefirst collar section is introduced into an annular groove serving as areceiving section of the fuel injection valve.
 4. The installationdevice according to claim 3, wherein the first collar section is formedaccording to a shape of a fork that encloses the receiving section. 5.The installation device according to claim 1, wherein the sheath elementincludes at least one inwardly extending projection for providing anadditional coupling between the sheath element and the fuel injectionvalve.
 6. The installation device according to claim 1, wherein theinstallation device is manufactured integrally from a metal sheetaccording to a deep drawing operation.
 7. The installation deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein:the metal sheet is bent into a partialcylindrical shape, the metal sheet is bent inward at right angles withrespect to a longitudinal axis of the sheath element at the first end ofthe sheath element in order to configure the first collar section, andthe metal sheet is bent outward at right angles with respect to thelongitudinal axis at the second end of the sheath element in order toconfigure the second collar section.
 8. The installation deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising at least one securing elementcoupled to the sheath element according to a snap-locking coupling inorder to secure at least one supply line of the fuel injection valve tothe sheath element.
 9. The installation device according to claim 1,further comprising a plurality of plug connections, each of the plugconnections including one of an hydraulic plug connection and anelectrical plug connection and being coupled to a corresponding one of aplurality of mating elements of the fuel injection valve according to asnap-locking coupling when the fuel injection valve is installed on theinstallation device.
 10. The installation device according to claim 9,further comprising:in a region of the first collar section, a pluralityof contact elements for coacting with the plurality of mating elementsin order to provide an electrical contacting between the plurality ofcontact elements and the plurality of mating elements; in a region ofthe second collar section, a contact plug; and a plurality of conductiveelements running along one of an inside portion and an outside portionof the sheath element and coupling the contact plug to the plurality ofcontact elements.